MILWAUKEE — It was a stoic Ned Yost who met with reporters Saturday prior to the Milwaukee Brewers' 4-3 victory over the Florida Marlins at Miller Park.

No, the Brewers manager said, he doesn't feel hamstrung because he's played the last six games with only two ready reserves.

No, he said, he doesn't think his offense is slumping of its own volition.

It's more the high-quality pitching the Brewers have faced over the first three weeks of the season.

Yet, as much as Yost is willing to suck it up and take it at this point, there is little doubt he is limited in his in-game moves with just two position players available. And there is little secret that the offense has been very quiet ever since it got off to such a good start in the first six games.

Yost downplayed the roster situation.

The Brewers have carried 14 pitchers since last Sunday, in part to make sure there is ready starting relief available for Ben Sheets, who has been bothered by triceps soreness.

That's why Yost has just two players ready to go on the bench.

On Saturday night, they were Craig Counsell and Tony Gwynn, both left-handed hitters.

Yost did use Mike Rivera as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning, but that's not an option Yost usually likes to use with his backup catcher.

"I'm not going to be making a lot of moves anyway," Yost said about his lineup. "What moves am I going to make?"

Yost later conceded that if he had a right-handed pinch-hitter available in the seventh inning Friday night, he would have used him for starter Yovani Gallardo.

"I probably would have hit for him if I had a regular bat," Yost said, "but I didn't, so I don't worry about it."

The way the Brewers have been hitting of late — a .223 average over the last 17 games heading into Saturday night — it might not have made a difference, anyway.

"We've faced some really good pitchers who haven't made many mistakes," he contended. "I don't see it as much our hitting as it is their pitching.

"You try not to get frustrated. You just keep going out there."

Farm fodder

Matt LaPorta, the Brewers' top pick in last June's draft, apparently has made the adjustment to Class AA. LaPorta, named the Southern League Player of the Week last week for Huntsville, saw his eight-game hitting streak come to an end Friday but raised his average to .286 after a 6-for-29 start.

LaPorta has six home runs and 22 runs RBIs. Meanwhile, right-hander Josh Butler, acquired last week in the deal that sent outfielder Gabe Gross to Tampa Bay, pitched four scoreless innings in relief for Class A Brevard County Friday night.

Around the horn

Center fielder Mike Cameron, suspended for the first 25 games of the season for testing positive last fall for banned stimulants, will make his season debut Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. Cameron went 1-for-4 with two runs scored during the Class AAA Nashville Sounds' 13-9 loss Saturday at Omaha. ... Sheets was encouraged after his bullpen pitching session during batting practice. The real results won't be known until today or Monday once he learns how his triceps responds. Yost has said he won't pitch Sheets Tuesday in Chicago unless Sheets is free of discomfort. … Larry the Cable Guy, the comedian who was in Milwaukee for two shows Saturday night at the Riverside Theater, took batting practice with the Brewers. "I still think you can pitch him under the belt," Yost said of his good friend, "even if he has lost 50 pounds."